Push button switch

ABSTRACT

A rectangular case supports a spring biased reciprocating lever of rectangular, block form by engagement of its ends with opposed parallel guide grooves within the sidewalls of the case, the width of the sidewalls at the groove contact area and respective grooves being different for orientation of the lever. Plural reed switches are mounted within a recessed portion of a rectangular protecting frame with a hole within the bottom of the frame receiving one reed switch lead and the lead captured within the groove at the rear of the frame. Frame pits, of corresponding size, defined by strips projecting inwardly from the sidewalls of the case receive the frames. Cylindrical cavities within the lever and flexible stops on opposed sides at the top and bottom of the cavity openings permit insertion and retention of cylindrical permanent magnets within the lever.

United States Patent [191 Yanaga [451 May 7,1974

[ PUSH BUTTON SWITCH [75] Inventor: Makoto Yanaga, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,247

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 21, 1972 Japan 47-8123 [52] US. Cl. 335/205 [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 36/00 [58] Field of Search 335/205, 206, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,462,719 8/1969 Peroni ct al. 335/206 Primary Examiner-Roy N. Envall, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eliot S. Gerber [57] ABSTRACT A rectangular case supports a spring biased reciprocating lever of rectangular, block form by engagement of its ends with opposed parallel guide grooves within the sidewalls of the case, the width of the sidewalls at the groove contact area and respective grooves being different for orientation of the lever. Plural reed switches are mounted within a recessed portion of a rectangular protecting frame with a hole Within the bottom of the frame receiving one reed switch lead and the lead captured within the groove at the rear of the frame. Frame pits, of corresponding size, defined by strips projecting inwardly from the sidewalls of the case receive the frames. Cylindrical cavities within the lever and flexible stops on opposed sides at the top and bottom of the cavity openings permit insertion and retention of cylindrical permanent magnets within the lever.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY new; 7 3810.052

SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG. 2-

iATENTED MAY 7 I 74 SHEEI 2 0F 2 1. PUSH BUTTON SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a push button switch, and more particularly to such a switch for use in various electronic computer input devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ton switch, wherein both a lever carrying an attached permanent magnet and a reed switch operated by movement of the permanent magnet are included within the switch case with the sides of the lever being slidable in grooves provided within the internal walls of the case.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement for attaching a reed switch to the interior of the push button switch case, in particular to an improved construction of a protecting frame for the reed switch. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement for attaching a permanent magnet to a lever of a push button reed switch, to reduce the impact of the lever with the bottom of the case upon depression of the lever by the attachment of a buffer to the lever in a secure manner.

Further objects of the invention reside in an arrangement whereby the assembly of the lever within the case is easily made and carried out at high efficiency with great practicable merit.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an arrangement where the reed switch is assured positive protection, and the reed switch may be easily attached to the case in a predetermined position,

It is a further advantageous feature of the invention to provide a push button switch for the assembly and dis-assembly of the permanent magnet with respect to the lever supporting the same, is achieved ina simple and easy manner, without the necessity for separate coupling parts such as screws or eye plates, thus providing an assembly having good workability at relatively low cost.

These objects are achieved specifically by employing a rectangular hollow case having opposed grooves within opposite sidewalls opening up interiorly and supporting a rectangular block-like reed switch operating lever therebetween for reciprocation therein and wherein one groove and matching side of the block are of a different width from that of the opposite side of the block, thus orienting the lever relative to the case. The bottom of thecase is-open permitting further insertion of reed switch assembly in terms-of a rectangular frame supporting each reed switch and maintained in position within the case by internal projections on the case sidewall defining pits which are rectangular in cross section of a size and configuration comparable to the reed switch frame at diagonally opposed corners within the case. Each frame is L-shaped in elevation formed by a recessed portion receiving the reed switch with one reed switch terminal passing through a hole in axial alignment with the reed switch and within the base of the L-shaped frame. The leg of the L-shaped frame is recessed, at its outer edge, to permit the opposite lead or terminal emanating from the top of the reed switch to be bent into modified U-shape such that the free end projects in the same direction and parallel to the lead passing through the hole within the base of the frame. The rectangular block-like lever is provided with cylindrical openings on axes parallel to the grooves and opening up onto opposite sides of the lever at the top and bottom respectively and defining flexible stops on each side thereof, permitting the insertion of a similarly sized and configured cylindrical permanent magnet which is snap fitted into the cylindrical recess, the permanent magnets being in juxtaposition to the respective reed switches and movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the switches. A cylindrical projection depends downwardly from the bottom of the lever block, is provided with an annular ridge intermediate of its ends and retains a cylindrical rubber buffer which is slid thereon and which frictionally grasps the cylindrical projection. A coil spring concentrically surrounds, at one end, a cylindrical projection on the upper face of a bottom cover for the switch case abuts the bottom of the rubber buffer and biases the lever towards the top of the case slots supporting the same. Holes within the cover permit the terminal ends of the switch leads to project therethrough for external electrical connections to the reed switches.

These and other objects of the invention and means for achieving the objects will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a push button switch constituting one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. j

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the manner in which the reed switch is captively inserted in the case.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the push button switch of FIGS. 1-3 inclusive.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing the manner of attaching the permanent magnet to the lever.

FIG. 5b is a perspective view identical to that of FIG. 5a, in which permanent magnets are completely attached to the lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention which employs a hollow case 10 of rectangular configuration, being of block form and being formed of an insulating material. A rectangular hole 12 is bored within the upper-wall ll of case 10 and within a common plane the inner surfaces of sidewalls l3 and 14 respectively are provided with grooves 15 and 16 for guiding the push button operating lever 32 in a manner such that the lever is movable in an up and down direction. The grooves oppose each other with the width of the grooves 15 and 16 being different, that is, the groove 15 is wider than groove 16.

Furthermore, as will be more apparent from viewing FIG. 2, there are projecting from the widewalls, strips 17 and 18 adjacent one corner and forming a first pit 21 for accommodating as hereafter described, a projecting frame 27 which supports a reed switch 23, while similar inwardly projecting strips 19 and 20 form in accompaniment with the intersecting walls at the diagonally opposite corner, a second pit 22 for similarly accommodating an identical reed switch protecting frame 27. Each reed switch 22 is provided with contacts 25 and 26 illustrated in dotted line, sealed within a glass tube 24. The protecting frame 27 is also made of insulating material and is a square pillar but being modified in terms of a U-shaped groove 28 within the front sur face of the frame and forming an L-shape, in elevation including a horizontal base and a vertical leg. A hole 29 is bored through the leg of the protecting frame 27 through which passes an electrical lead 25' electrically connected to contact 25 internally of the reed switch glass tube 24. On the rear side of the protecting frame 27, there is provided a recess or groove 31 which receives an L-shaped lead 30 which, in turn, is electrically connected to contact 26 of the reed switch. When assembling the reed switch 23 to the protecting frame 27, the lead 25' which projects outwardly of the reed switch 23 at the bottom of the glass tube 24, is inserted through the axially aligned hole 29 of the projecting frame 27, such that the reed switch itself is located within the U-shaped groove 28, then the L-shaped terminal 30 is positioned on the rear side of the protecting,

frame 27 within the recess or groove 31. A short part of the L-shaped terminal 30 is thereafter spot welded to the axial lead 26 projecting upwardly from the top of reed switch 23. After assembly, the glass tube 24, the

reed switch 23 is thus securely located within the U- Y shaped groove 28 of the protecting frame 27 and is thereby fully protected.

In the above described embodiment of the present invention, though a separate L-shaped terminal or lead 30 and a short axial lead 26' of the reed switch 23 is described as being spot welded together, it is of course possible that a comparatively long lead wire equivalent to lead 26' maybe bent into L-shape such that its major portion fits within the recess or groove 31 at the rear of the frame 27. i

The protecting frame 27, the reed switch 23, and the L-shaped terminal 30, when assembled together, as a unit, are then inserted within the protecting frame accommodating pit2l of the .case, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In these Figures, although only one protecting frame 27 is positioned within its associated pit 21, it is of course possible to fit another identical protecting frame into the other pit 22, although the protecting frame is omitted purposely to simplify the description of the invention.

Another important aspect of the present invention resides'in thepush button switch operating lever 32, being of rectangular block form and being provided with integral projections 34 and 34' at the upper end of the same with a narrow 'slot 33 formed therebetween. A longitudinal recess within one side of the lever 32 forms a surface portion at the edge as at 36 which is narrower than the corresponding surface portion of the edge at the other side. This provides orientation to the lever permitting it to be inserted within the case oriented in a particular fashion. Further, on the lower end of lever 32, there is provided a central 4 cylindrical projection 38'having an enlarged radial portion 37' intermediate of its end which acts to frictionally hold a cylindrical buffer piece formed 'of rubber, the buffer piece 46 being pushed onto the projection and locking in position by the radially enlarged portion 37.

Furthermore, as best seen in FIG. 5, two cylindrical cavities 39 and 40 are provided within the lever in lat erally spaced apart relationship. On respective side surfaces of the lever 32 at the upper portion of the cylindrical cavities 39 and 40, two comparatively short en gagable stops for holding portions 41 and 42 are provided and on respective side surfaces of lever 32 at the lower portions of the cylindrical cavities 39 and 40 two comparatively long and similarly formed engagable stops or holding portion 43 and 44 are provided in diagonally opposite relationship to the short stops. In each case, the side'openings formed by the cylindrical cavities are modified at the top and bottom of opposite sides by the presence of flexible stops, integral with the lever block. i

In these cylindrical cavities 39- and 40, cylindrical permanent magnets 45 may be inserted in such a manner that the upper end of permanent magnet 45 is .first introduced into the cylindrical cavity 39 as shown in FIG. 5a and then the lower part of the permanent magnet 45 is pressed into the cavity 39. By this procedure,

the engagable stops or holding portion 41 are forced outwardly by the permanent magnet 45 due to the nature of the slot formed therebetween, and in'the course of pressing the lower portion of permanent magnet 45 into the cavity, the permanent magnet 45 fits quite tightly into the cavity during final positioning so that the lower part of the permanent magnet 45 abuts the holding portion 43 on the opposite side thereof and is prevented from dropping out of cavity 39. At this instance, the upper part of the permanent magnet 45 is urged by the deformed holding portion 41 tending to returri'it to its original position so that the upper part of thepermanent magnetis held in position in axial alignment with the cavity receiving the same, FIG. 5b indicating the finalresting position of both permanent magnets within their respective cavities. Although the FIGS. I-Sa inclusive illustrate a permanent magnet being inserted into only'one-cavity, it is seen in FIG. 5b that both cavities may receive permanent magnets. Further, as evidenced in FIG. 2, for instance, while there are provided two pits 21 and 22, the case may be modified by employing additional projections to projections 17, 18, 19 and 20 associated with all four corners whereby two permanent magnets may in fact actuate four reed switches, at the four corners thereof.

As described above, each permanent magnet can be attached to the lever by simple pressing of the permanent magnet into the cavity and deforming the stops temporarily permitting the attachment of a permanent magnet to the lever in an extremely simple and workable manner and wherein the production of the operating lever and thus the switchmay be substantially improved. Furthermore, when it is desirable to remove the permanent magnet 45 from a given cavity, the lower part of the permanentmagnet maybe readily pushed out of theholding portion by deforming the same permitting ready removal of the permanent magnet.

A rubber buffer piece 46 of cup-like configuration and having an internal diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical projection 38 which depends from lever 32 is forced to slip over the cylindrical projection 38. In this case, the radially enlarged portion 37 of the cylindrical projection 38 acts to prevent the rubber buffer piece 46 from coming off the cylindrical projection when the lever is in raised position. Further, a coil spring 47 of a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical projection 38 is concentrically and forcibly placed on the buffer piece 46 with the radially enlarged portion 37 of projection 38 acting through the cylindrical portion of the cup-like piece 46 and lying intermediate of a given loop of the coil spring, prevents the coil spring from falling off of the rubber buffer piece.

The lever 32 thus attached with a permanent magnet 45 or a pair of permanent magnets 45, a rubber buffer piece 46 and a coil spring 47 is then slid into the guide grooves 15, 16, within case 10, in an oriented manner. Since the width of the ends of lever 32 are different and correspond in turn to the width of grooves 15 and 16 receiving the same, there is only one position in which the lever may be inserted within case and thus any possibility of erroneously coupling the lever to the case is eliminated.

The upper centrally projecting part of lever 32 extends through the rectangular hole 12 of the case 10 and outwardly therefrom, and a push button'48 is fixed to the upper part of lever 32 in a well known manner.

Thereafter, a bottom plate 49 is employed to cover the open bottom of case 10. The bottom plate 49 is provided with a plurality of holes as at 50 and 50 for permitting the terminal ends of leads 25 to project therethrough, while holes 51 and 51' permit leads or terminals 30 to project therethrough in similar fashion, assuming two reed switches are employed. The bottom plate 49 is further provided with a projection 52 extending upwardly therefrom for locating the coil spring 47 carried by lever 32.

The bottom plate 49 may be fixed to the lower part of the case 10 by any conventional manner, with the leads 25 and terminals 30' extending through holes 50, 50' and 51, 51' respectively. This permits separate electrical connections to the switches carried by the case l '0. The lower end of the coil spring 47 then engages the projection 52 by concentrically surrounding the same, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby any deviation of the coil spring 47 is prevented while at the same time the lever 32 is always urged upwardly by the coil spring.

In operation, if the switch is in the state shown in FIG. 1, depression of the push button 48 causes the spring biased lever 32 to move downwardly with both ends sliding along grooves and 16 until the rubber buffer piece 46 abuts projection 52 of bottom plate 49. At this time, the impact of lever 32 against the bottom plate 49 is absorbed by the presence of the rubber buffer piece 46.

During the displacement of the permanent magnet 45 carried by lever 32, relative to reed switch 23, the contacts 25 and 26 in the reed switch move from open position to closed position and thus the switch 23 transfers from the off state to the on state.

When the depressing force applied to the push button 48 is released, the-lever 32 is pushed upwardly by the coil spring 47 to its original position for depression, whereby the reed switch changes from the on state to the off state. Thus, it will be fully understood that the reed switch may be changed in state by simple depression and releasing of the push button 48.

Although the invention has been described in respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case, housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying at least one permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position, the improvement wherein: said lever comprises a rectangular block mounted at its edges within aligned grooves of opposed sidewalls of said case and wherein one edge of said lever is wider than the other and the grooves are of corresponding width, whereby said lever is oriented for insuring proper assembly of the same relative to said case. i

2. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reed switch protecting frame for each switch, said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material, said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member, the front of said frame being provided with a U-shaped groove and a hole bored within the base of said frame centered with said groove, said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and axially protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U- shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube with the long end, protruding downwardly, within said groove on the rear of said frame, with the free end of the long end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said one lead.

3. The push button switch as claimed in claim- 2, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case, and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case, and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with said sidewalls and receiving said square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal and permitting the terminal-end of said one lead and said terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.

' 4. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity therein whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of said lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever, and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising defiectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully inserted therein.

5. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical projection depending from the bottom of said lever block, a radially enlarged portion provided on said projection intermediate of its ends, a cup-shaped resilient buffer having an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the major portion of said cylindrical projection forcibly inserted on said cylindrical projection and a coil spring concentrically carried by said cup-shaped buffer captured by the distorted buffer at said radially enlarged portion of said projection, and wherein the bottom of said coil spring engages said cover and tends to bias said lever away from said cover into a first lever position, and wherein depression of said lever to said second position causes said projection and said buffer to move downwardly within said case and to compress said coil spring until said buffer contacts said cover.

6. The push button switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover includes a cylindrical projection coaxial with said spring, on its upper surfacethereof facing said lever and concentrically receives the end of said coil spring not carried by said buffer to assist in maintaining alignment between the reciprocating parts of said switch.

7. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during lever reciprocation from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising:

at least one cylindrical cavity within said switch operating lever whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of said-lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever,. said permanent magnet being cylindrical in form and of a size conforming to said cavity, and deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever,

whereby, said cylindrical permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing the free end into one of the sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and said permanent magnet is fully inserted within said cavity by momentarily deforming said defiectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully seated therein.

8. The push button switch as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a reed switch protecting frame for each switch, said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material, said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member, the front of said frame being provided with a U-shaped. groove and a hole bored within the base of said frame centered with said groove, said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and actually protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U- shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end protruding downwardly within said groove on the rear of said frame with its free end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said one lead.

9. The push button switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom wall within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end lead and the free end of said terminal for each switch and permitting the terminal of said one lead and said terminal thereof to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith, and wherein said cover member prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case. 7

10. The push button switch as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a cylindrical projection depending from the bottom of said lever block, a radially enlarged portion provided on said projection intermediate of its ends, a cup-shaped resilient buffer having an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the major portion of said cylindrical projection, said buffer being forcibly inserted on said cylindrical projection and a coil spring concentrically carriedv by said cupshaped buffer and captured by the distorted portion of said buffer at said radially enlarged portion of said projection, and wherein the bottom-of said coil spring engages said cover and tends to bias said lever away from said cover into a first lever position, whereby: depression of said lever to said second position causes said projection and said buffer to move downwardly within said case to compress said coil spring until said buffer contacts said cover.

11. The push button switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover includes a cylindrical projection coaxial with said spring on its upper surface thereof facing said lever to concentrically receive'the end of said coil spring not carried by said buffer to assist in maintaining alignment between the reciprocating parts of said switch.

12. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet relative to each switch for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising:

a reed switch protecting frame for each switch,

said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material,

said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member,

the front of said frame being provided with a U shaped groove and a hole bored within the face of said frame centered with said groove,

said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and axially protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U-shaped groove,

the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore,

an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end thereof protruding downwardly, within said groove on the rear of said frame with the free end of the long end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said wire lead.

13. The push button switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a related square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal at each switch location and permitting the terminal end of said one lead and the terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.

14. The push button switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of the lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby; said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidwall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof and by momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindricalcavity, said magnet is fully inserted therein. 

1. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case, housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying at least one permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position, the improvement wherein: said lever comprises a rectangular block mounted at its edges within aligned grooves of opposed sidewalls of said case and wherein one edge of said lever is wider than the other and the grooves are of corresponding width, whereby said lever is oriented for insuring proper assembly of the same relative to said case.
 2. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reed switch protecting frame for each switch, said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material, said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member, the front of said frame being provided with a U-shaped groove and a hole bored within the base of said frame centered with said groove, said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and axially protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U-shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminaL having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube with the long end, protruding downwardly, within said groove on the rear of said frame, with the free end of the long end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said one lead.
 3. The push button switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case, and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case, and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with said sidewalls and receiving said square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal and permitting the terminal end of said one lead and said terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
 4. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity therein whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of said lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever, and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully inserted therein.
 5. The push button switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical projection depending from the bottom of said lever block, a radially enlarged portion provided on said projection intermediate of its ends, a cup-shaped resilient buffer having an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the major portion of said cylindrical projection forcibly inserted on said cylindrical projection and a coil spring concentrically carried by said cup-shaped buffer captured by the distorted buffer at said radially enlarged portion of said projection, and wherein the bottom of said coil spring engages said cover and tends to bias said lever away from said cover into a first lever position, and wherein depression of said lever to said second position causes said projection and said buffer to move downwardly within said case and to compress said coil spring until said buffer contacts said cover.
 6. The push button switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover includes a cylindrical projection coaxial with said spring, on its upper surface thereof facing said lever and concentrically receives the end of said coil spring not carried by said buffer to assist in maintaining alignment between the reciprocating parts of said switch.
 7. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during lever reciprocation from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising: at least one cylindrical cavity within said switch operating lever whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of said lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever, said permanent magnet being cylindrical in form and of a size conforming to said cavity, and deflectable stops at respective ends of said caviTy on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby, said cylindrical permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing the free end into one of the sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and said permanent magnet is fully inserted within said cavity by momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully seated therein.
 8. The push button switch as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a reed switch protecting frame for each switch, said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material, said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member, the front of said frame being provided with a U-shaped groove and a hole bored within the base of said frame centered with said groove, said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and actually protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U-shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end protruding downwardly within said groove on the rear of said frame with its free end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said one lead.
 9. The push button switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom wall within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end lead and the free end of said terminal for each switch and permitting the terminal of said one lead and said terminal thereof to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith, and wherein said cover member prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
 10. The push button switch as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a cylindrical projection depending from the bottom of said lever block, a radially enlarged portion provided on said projection intermediate of its ends, a cup-shaped resilient buffer having an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the major portion of said cylindrical projection, said buffer being forcibly inserted on said cylindrical projection and a coil spring concentrically carried by said cup-shaped buffer and captured by the distorted portion of said buffer at said radially enlarged portion of said projection, and wherein the bottom of said coil spring engages said cover and tends to bias said lever away from said cover into a first lever position, whereby: depression of said lever to said second position causes said projection and said buffer to move downwardly within said case to compress said coil spring until said buffer contacts said cover.
 11. The push button switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover includes a cylindrical projection coaxial with said spring on its upper surface thereof facing said lever to concentrically receive the end of said coil spring not carried by said buffer to assist in maintaining alignment between the reciprocating parts of said switch.
 12. In a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet relative to each switch for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising: a reed switch protecting frame for each switch, said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material, said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member, the front of said frame being provided with a U-shaped groove and a hole bored within the face of said frame centered with said groove, said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and axially protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U-shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end thereof protruding downwardly, within said groove on the rear of said frame with the free end of the long end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said wire lead.
 13. The push button switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a related square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal at each switch location and permitting the terminal end of said one lead and the terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
 14. The push button switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of the lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby; said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidwall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof and by momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity, said magnet is fully inserted therein. 